Malaysia’s largest state is the rainforest-saturated region of Borneo known as Sarawak. Indonesia’s Kalimantan provinces, the eastern state of Malaysian Sabah and the small kingdom of Brunei share this massive island, but it’s Sarawak that receives the most attention. Almost as large as the entire peninsula of Malaysia, Sarawak is a land of impenetrable jungle, dense mountains, long rivers and some of the planet’s most bizarre and fascinating wildlife.
Young children may struggle to keep pace with the extreme nature of the outdoor activities in Sarawak, but older kids should find this region as exciting and engaging as anything they’ll ever see on television. Outdoor recreation is the main attraction here, with everything from longboat rides through the jungle to check out the wildlife and indigenous tribes, to beaches with excellent swimming and snorkelling.
New Year's Day: if you find yourself in one of the resort towns on the beach, there will definitely be some celebrating. Kuching is probably the best spot to party in the new year though celebrations don’t compete with February’s Chinese New Year.
After spending a day or two in Sarawak’s riverside capital Kuching getting some cultural foundation at the museums, start making your forays into this region’s vast wonderland. Make an excursion to one of the many longhouse communities, then hit the luscious beaches hidden in Bako National Park. Sibu is another good hub, with the towering Batang Rejang Mountain and Similajau National Park. Miri is the base for trekking into the cool reaches of the Kelabit Highlands and for quick jaunts into neighbouring Brunei. There’s literally a lifetime of amazing sites in Sarawak, so you better get started.
Nearly every traveller to Sarawak arrives by plane, and the capital Kuching provides the most convenient entry point. Although most of the flights originate domestically from Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, there are a couple of direct international flights from Hong Kong and Perth. Within Sarawak itself, Kuching handles daily flights from Miri, Sibu and Bintulu. Malaysian Airlines and AirAsia provide the majority of services. Kuching’s small airport has been undergoing some well-needed upgrades, helping to keep Sarawak on course to becoming one of the star destinations in Southeast Asia. Visitors will find basic but essential amenities in the terminal, such as a currency exchange kiosk, restaurants and shops. Taxis provide the only means of transportation from the airport to your destination and use a coupon system priced according to zones. Taxi coupons can be bought at the desk outside the Arrivals hall.
Banks: 09:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday; 09:30 to 11:30, Saturdays
Post Offices: 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 10:00 to 22:00, daily
Museums: 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Saturday
Business Offices: 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
Explore Sarawak |
The breakfast and dinner buffets were very good, we also enjoyed the evening shows. Great location right on the river bank. Front desk was very helpful. There is a road to Mulu, but it is 8 hours by...
